Abstract:
This study utilized participatory action research approaches to construct a follower-centric
framework for measuring influences on sexual decision making by youth members of a church
organization. Participants were Batswana Pentecostal church members self-reporting on their
engagement in pre-marital sex (n = 68, females = 62%; age range 15–23 years; median age = 20.3 years)
from eight of 26 randomly selected congregations. They completed a multi-stage concept mapping
process that included free listing of statements of potential influences on their sexual decisions.
They then sorted the statements into groupings similar in meaning to them, and rated the same
statements for relative importance to their sexual decisions. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical
cluster analysis of the data yielded a five cluster solution in which church teachings emerged as
most salient to the teenagers’ sexual decision making followed by future orientation, community
norms, knowledge about HIV/AIDS and prevention education. While the youth believed to be
influenced by religion teachings on primary sexual abstinence, they self-reported with pre-marital sex.
This suggests a need for secondary abstinence education with them to reduce their risk for STIs/HIV
and unwanted pregnancies. Concept mapping is serviceable to construct frameworks and to identify
content of follower-centric influences on sexual decision making by church youth members.
